Chemistry Minor
A chemistry minor often provides sufficient background in the discipline that students
may be able to find jobs as chemical technicians after graduation. The minor has
only 8 hours of courses that students must take students may choose the remainder
of the requirements to best suit their needs.
Required courses:
CHM 111 Principles of Chemistry I| An introduction to chemistry for the science major. First semester topics include atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, calculations involving chemical concentrations, gas laws and bonding. |
| A continuation of first semester. Topics include kinetics, acids and bases, equilibrium, oxidation- reduction chemistry, thermodynamics, electro- chemistry and nuclear chemistry. |
One of the following sequences:
CHM 113 Introductory Laboratory I| Laboratory course to accompany 111. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to instrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers. |
| Second semester laboratory course to accompany 112. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to intrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers. |
or
CHM 115 Techniques of Chemistry I| Extended projects involving the synthesis of inorganic and organic compounds that require the development of procedure from published literature methods. The prepared compounds are then analyzed using quantitative analytical techniques, as well as introductory spectroscopic techniques. |
| Second semester of extended projects involving the synthesis of inorganic and organic compounds that require the development of procedure from published literature methods. The prepared compounds are then analyzed using quantitative analytical techniques, as well as introductory spectroscopic techniques. |
Advanced coursework 12 credit hours of lecture courses selected from the following list of courses:
Possibilities (3 hours each):
BCMB 421 Biochemistry I| The study of the chemistry of the molecules of life. Topics covered include: the applications of pH & buffers, amino acid chemistry, protein structure & function, the thermodynamics of protein folding, protein purification & analysis, ligand binding, enzyme mechanisms and enzyme kinetics. |
| The continued study of the chemistry of the molecules of life. Topics covered include carbohydrate chemistry & metabolism, coenzyme mechanisms, electron transport & oxidative phosphorylation, lipid chemistry, membranes, lipid metabolism amino acid metabolism and the integrated function of intermediary metabolism & its metabolic control. |
| An introduction to the principles of organic chemistry. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic synthesis. |
| Second semester of an introduction to the principles of organic chemistry. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic synthesis. |
| The application of elementary principles of chemistry to provide a basis for understanding the physical and chemical properties of the elements. Topics include periodicity, acidity or basicity of metalcations and oxoanions, precipitation reactions, oxidation-reduction chemistry, and the structures of solids. |
| Topics for this course include statistical methods; activity and activity coefficients; chemical equilibria involving complex systems; volumetric analyses including acid/base, precipitation, redox, and complexometric titrations; principles of electrochemistry, potentiometry, electrogravimetry, coulometry, and voltametry. |
| Basic types of chemical instrumentation and their applications in analytical chemistry are examined. These include gas and liquid chromatography; infrared, UV-VIS, fluorescence, atomic absorption, and plasma emission spectrophotometry; nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. |
| The study of chemical systems from a molecular perspective. Basic concepts of quantum chemistry applied to atomic and molecular structure. Thermodynamic laws and functions applied to mechanical, thermal, and material equilibrium in gases, liquids, and solids. Also included are electrochemical systems, as well as kinetic and transport processes occurring in gases, in solutions, and at solid surfaces. |
| Second semester of a study of chemical systems from a molecular perspective. Basic concepts of quantum chemistry applied to atomic and molecular structure. Thermodynamic laws and functions applied to mechanical, thermal, and material equilibrium in gases, liquids, and solids. Also included are electrochemical systems, as well as kinetic and transport processes occurring in gases, in solutions, and at solid surfaces |
| A study of bonding theories, molecular structure, spectroscopy and reaction mechanisms with special emphasis on transition metal complexes. |
Advanced Laboratory 3 credit hours of laboratory courses selected from chemistry or biochemistry courses numbered 200 or higher:
Possibilities (1 hour each):
BCMB 430 Biochemistry Laboratory| Investigations of the properties and functions of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids. |
| An introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. |
| Second smester of an introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. |
| Students will be exposed to a number of advanced synthetic methods including inert atmosphere manipulations, high vacuum and temperature dehydrations, mixed solvent crystallizations, and photochemical transformations . |
| Volumetric, spectrophotometric, and electrochemical methods are applied to the analysis of unknowns. |
| Experimental study of the principles of physical chemistry. Work involves spectroscopy (IR, UV/VIS, fluorescence, Raman, and NMR), calorimetry, refractometry, conductivity, and viscometry applied to atomic and molecular structure, thermodynamics, phase and reaction equilibrium, and chemical kinetics |
| Second semester of an experimental study of the principles of physical chemistry. Work involves spectroscopy (IR, UV/VIS, fluorescence, Raman, and NMR), calorimetry, refractometry, conductivity, and viscometry applied to atomic and molecular structure, thermodynamics, phase and reaction equilibrium, and chemical kinetics. |